Scalable hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic

ABSTRACT

Techniques are disclosed for implementing a scalable hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic are disclosed that provide distributed, autonomous control of a multitude of sites in an energy system using abstraction and aggregation techniques. A hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic is provided that includes multiple control modules arranged in a hierarchy. Each control module can implement a same energy optimization scheme logic to directly control site energy resources and possibly energy resources of sites associated with control modules existing below it in the hierarchy. Each control module can act autonomously through use a similar set of input values to the common optimization scheme logic.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/802,811, filed Jul. 17, 2015, and claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/119,925, filed Feb. 24,2015, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entiretyfor all purposes.

FIELD

Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of energy systems; andmore specifically, to a scalable hierarchical energy distribution gridutilizing homogeneous control logic.

BACKGROUND

Recently, the installation of energy generation systems (e.g., systemsthat generate energy using renewable resources such as solar, wind,hydropower, etc.) at residential and non-residential sites hasproliferated for various climate, cost, stability, security, andpolitical reasons. One large segment of installed energy generationsystems involves solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Many installed PV systems can be directly or indirectly connected toutility-maintained electrical grids (e.g., via a site's main panel/mainline), and may thus be referred to as “grid-connected” systems.Grid-connected energy generation systems beneficially allow site loadsto be serviced in whole or in part from the grid at various times. Forexample, during evening hours when a PV system cannot generatesubstantial amounts of energy due to lack of sunlight, a site may drawsome or all of its energy from the grid. In some configurations,grid-connected energy generation systems can also allow excess energygenerated at the site to be fed back to the grid (and used/stored byothers), such as when generated PV energy production may exceed a site'slocal energy load/use.

However, a limitation with many grid-connected energy generation systemsis that, unlike a traditional power plant, the system power output maybe intermittent and non-dispatchable. For example, a grid-connected PVsystem is typically limited in its ability to provide power capacity attimes of peak grid loads, balance grid voltage and frequencyvariability, and/or supply energy when prices are most economic.

To address these and other limitations, some systems have been developedthat integrate grid-connected energy generation (e.g., PV) componentswith an on-site energy storage subsystem, such as a battery device and abattery inverter/charger. In these integrated systems, the energystorage subsystem can be configured to store excess energy as it isgenerated by the PV components, and possibly dispatch stored energy tosatisfy local (or external, grid-wide) loads as needed. Additionally,energy storage capability enables a number of other features that canprovide benefits to the site owner or the service provider of thesystem, such as the ability to “time shift” energy usage to minimize theneed to pull energy from the grid, and thus reduce energy costs.

However, energy generation and/or storage systems are largely unable toflexibly adapt to changing conditions specific to the site, nearbysites, region, grid, etc. Accordingly, currently site loads andgenerators are largely uncontrolled, and at best are operated accordingto a schedule to provide what is guessed or hoped to be an efficientscheme. However, in reality many use cases would require some sort ofadditional coordination in real-time between resources—at a site, orperhaps among multiple sites—to actually achieve the desired results.For example, on a cloudy day, energy from a storage system couldpotentially be dispatched to avoid a demand spike placed upon the grid.

Despite the advantages associated with integrating grid-connected PVenergy generation with on-site energy storage, there are a number ofchallenges that make it difficult to efficiently deploy and control suchintegrated systems, particularly on a large, distributed scale. Forexample, it is tremendously difficult to attempt to control largenumbers of energy generation and/or storage systems installed at varioussites (in various geographic locations) utilizing differing device typesthat may have different capabilities, differing grid requirements,differing weather conditions, differing energy pricing schemes, etc.

Accordingly, there is a need for efficient, intelligent, adaptivecontrol systems for energy generation and/or storage systems.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to energy systems, and morespecifically, to a scalable hierarchical energy distribution gridutilizing homogeneous control logic. Techniques are disclosed that allowfor distributed, autonomous control of a multitude of sites in an energysystem using abstraction and aggregation techniques for simplified yetpowerful system control to achieve energy goals.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, a scalable hierarchical energydistribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic is provided. Theenergy distribution grid can include multiple control modules arrangedin a hierarchy, each of which implements a same energy optimizationscheme logic. Each control module in the hierarchy can autonomouslyimplement the same energy optimization scheme logic, reducingimplementation and configuration complexities and any need forlarge-scale communications or reporting. Some or all of the controlmodules can directly control energy resources (e.g., generation devices,storage devices, load devices, etc.) at an associated site according tothe optimization scheme logic.

In some embodiments, each control module can act independently (or“autonomously”) through use a similar set of input values to the commonoptimization scheme logic to thereby control energy resources at anassociated site.

In some embodiments, each control module interacts with one level ofcontrol modules above and/or below the control module, and may not needto see (or even be aware of) details of or data related to other controlmodules at further levels up or down in the hierarchy. For example, achild control module's optimization scheme logic can utilize its localEG value, load value, and storage value, while its parent can considerthe aggregate EG value, aggregate load value, and aggregate storagevalue for all of its immediate child control modules in the hierarchy.

Moreover, some embodiments utilize abstraction techniques so that acontrol module need not be aware of details of other control modules (orsites) in the hierarchy, and can instead be aware of local,site-specific details and/or data from control modules directlyconnected to it in the hierarchy.

In some embodiments, the hierarchy of control modules can be scaledindefinitely, as each control module can be configured to only considerdata from its corresponding site, one level up in the hierarchy (e.g.,parent control module control signals), and/or one level downstream inthe hierarchy (e.g., child control module data), allowing for theoptimization scheme logic to be simplified, easily developed, andrapidly executed. This can allow the optimization scheme logic to reactto changing conditions quickly and with minimal processing/networkingoverhead.

In some embodiments, each control module can implement a sameoptimization scheme logic configured to target a common goal. Forexample, the optimization scheme logic can be configured to, based uponthe set of input values, control energy devices at the correspondingsite to adjust a net load of the site (e.g., a power curve) such that itis as “flat” and “low” as possible. The optimization scheme logic canalso be configured to only flatten the net load of the site, only targeta “low” net load of the site, or place varying degrees ofweight/importance upon these factors in determining how to control thesite's energy devices.

The optimization scheme logic can also be configured to, based upon theset of input values, control energy devices at the corresponding site toadjust the energy profile (e.g., load/storage/generation) of the sitebased upon grid energy pricing data such that the net cost of energytaken from the grid at the site is minimized. Accordingly, theoptimization scheme logic can be configured to cause energy to be takenfrom the grid, if needed, during relatively inexpensive or “low-demand”times, and/or dispatched to the grid during relatively “in-demand” times(from the perspective of the grid).

The foregoing, together with other features and embodiments will becomemore apparent upon referring to the following specification, claims, andaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a simplified high-level hierarchy of control modules of anenergy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a fractal nature of hierarchical control modules utilizinghomogeneous control logic according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows exemplary sites and hardware-based configurations forimplementing hierarchical control modules utilizing homogeneous controllogic according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary control module implemented using a sitegateway and other site energy devices sites according to someembodiments.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary optimal net flow power curve, combined loadand generation curves with excess generation, and an aggregate powercurve according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary price curve and a price-optimized net powercurve according to some embodiments.

FIG. 7 shows exemplary communications between parent control modules andchild control modules in an interactive hierarchical energy distributiongrid configuration according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 shows a flow in a control module configured as a parent in ahierarchy of control modules for energy optimization configurationaccording to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 shows a flow in a control module configured as an independentnode in a mesh or hierarchy of control modules for energy optimizationconfiguration according to some embodiments.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an exemplary computer apparatusaccording to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, specificdetails are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding ofembodiments of the invention. However, it will be apparent that variousembodiments may be practiced without these specific details. The figuresand description are not intended to be restrictive.

One approach to implementing a control system for multiple energyresources at multiple sites may include configuring each site (e.g.,each device at each site, for example) to communicate with a centralizedcontrol server. Such a control server could be configured to control theenergy generation, storage, etc., at each individual site to manageresources in the entire grouping of energy generation/storage sites.However, as the network continues to expand, the control server wouldrequire higher and higher levels of bandwidth to track data from allconnected devices at all connected sites, such as the real-time (RT)energy generation, RT load requirements, RT storage capabilities, etc.,for each site in the grid.

Such a configuration, with a continued addition of controlled sites, maybe computationally expensive and difficult to reliably manage. Moreover,the control server may suffer from latency problems created by hugenumbers of communications with huge numbers of devices over a limitedbandwidth channel.

Additionally, the control server may be required to be able tocommunicate using a variety of protocols to be able to connect withpotentially multiple types of devices from potentially multipleproviders. As a variety of different types of energy system devices(e.g., inverters, batteries, controllable loads, PV devices, etc. ofvarious makes and models) may be present across the different sites.Such end devices implement numerous protocols and behaviors, offeringheterogeneous interfaces for communications purposes.

Accordingly, in certain embodiments, a scalable hierarchical energydistribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic is provided. Theenergy distribution grid includes multiple control modules arranged in ahierarchy, each of which implements a same energy optimization schemelogic. Each control module in the hierarchy can autonomously implementthe same energy optimization scheme logic, reducing implementation andconfiguration complexities and any need for large-scale communicationsor reporting. Some or all of the control modules can directly controlenergy resources (e.g., generation devices, storage devices, loaddevices, etc.) at a site according to the optimization scheme logic.

In some embodiments, each control module can act independently (or“autonomously”) through use a similar set of input values to the commonoptimization scheme logic to thereby control energy resources at anassociated site.

In some embodiments, an optimization scheme logic of a “leaf” controlmodule in the hierarchy (e.g., a control module of a site includingenergy resources and not serving as a parent to any other controlmodule) can utilize a total energy generation (EG) value of the site asa first input, a total load value as a second input, a total storagecapacity as a third input. The optimization scheme logic can alsoutilize energy price data from a price signal as an input.

In some embodiments, a “parent” control module (e.g., a control moduleconfigured as a “parent” to one or more other control modules in thehierarchy) can use similar inputs to the same optimization scheme logic.However, these inputs can be based upon “aggregate” data from the sitesof the corresponding child control modules. In some embodiments, aparent control module optimization scheme logic can use an aggregate EGvalue of the “child” control module sites as a first input, an aggregateload value of the child control module sites as a second input, anaggregate storage value of the child control module sites as a thirdinput, etc. In some embodiments, the parent control module optimizationscheme logic can use energy price data from a price signal as an input.

In some embodiments, each parent control module only “sees” (is awareof) one level of control modules above and/or below the parent controlmodule, and may not need to see (or even be aware of) details of or datarelated to other control modules at further levels up or down in thehierarchy. For example, a child control module's optimization schemelogic can utilize its local EG value, load value, and storage value,while its parent can consider the aggregate EG value, aggregate loadvalue, and aggregate storage value for all of its immediate childcontrol modules in the hierarchy.

Moreover, some embodiments benefit from an application of abstraction,wherein a control module need not be aware of details of other controlmodules (or sites) in the hierarchy, and can instead focus upon local,site-specific details and/or data from control modules directlyconnected to it in the hierarchy.

Accordingly, embodiments can theoretically be scaled indefinitely, aseach control module can be configured to only consider data from itscorresponding site, one level up in the hierarchy (e.g., parent controlmodule control signals), and/or one level downstream in the hierarchy(e.g., child control module data), allowing for the optimization schemelogic to be simplified, easily developed, and rapidly executed. Thus,the optimization scheme logic may react to changing conditions quicklyand with minimal processing/networking overhead.

In some embodiments, each control module can implement a sameoptimization scheme logic configured to target a common goal. Forexample, the optimization scheme logic can be configured to, based uponthe set of input values, control energy devices at the correspondingsite to adjust a net load of the site (e.g., a power curve) such that itis as “flat” and “low” as possible. Flat energy loads are beneficial forthe site and the grid as a whole, as flat loads are predictable and donot have energy “spikes” that can cause the grid (or site resources) tosuffer from demand exceeding supply, which can lead to supply problemssuch as brownouts and/or hardware problems in the system. Moreover,“low” net loads are beneficial for the site and the grid as a whole, asit indicates a smaller amount of energy demand, thereby reducing theamount of energy required from the grid and the associated cost to thesite. The optimization scheme logic can also be configured to onlyflatten the net load of the site, only target a “low” net load of thesite, or place varying degrees of weight/importance upon these factorsin determining how to control the site's energy devices.

As another example, the optimization scheme logic can be configured to,based upon the set of input values, control energy devices at thecorresponding site to adjust the energy profile (e.g.,load/storage/generation) of the site based upon grid energy pricing datasuch that the net cost of energy taken from the grid at the site isminimized. Accordingly, the optimization scheme logic can be configuredto cause energy to be taken from the grid, if needed, during relativelyinexpensive or “low-demand” times, and/or dispatched to the grid duringrelatively “in-demand” times (from the perspective of the grid).

For purposes of illustration, several of the examples and embodimentsthat follow are described in the context of energy generation,consumption and/or storage (EGS) systems that use solar PV technologyfor energy generation and battery technology for energy storage.However, it should be appreciated that embodiments of the presentinvention are not limited to such implementations. For example, in someembodiments, alternative types of energy generation technologies (e.g.,wind turbine, solar-thermal, geothermal, biomass, hydropower, etc.) maybe used. In other embodiments, alternative types of energy storagetechnologies (e.g., compressed air, flywheels, pumped hydro,superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), etc.) may be used. Oneof ordinary skill in the art will recognize many modifications,variations, and alternatives.

FIG. 1 shows a simplified high-level hierarchy 100 of control modules ofan energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logicaccording to some embodiments. The depicted hierarchy 100 of controlmodules depicts four levels of control modules 105A-105N. In variousembodiments there can be more levels or fewer levels, as well as morecontrol modules (e.g., tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands,millions, etc.) or fewer control modules (e.g., two, three, etc.).Moreover, the use of the suffix “N” in 105N is not meant to indicate aparticular number of control modules, only that there may be multiplesuch control modules—e.g., two, five, ten, one hundred, one thousand,one million, etc.

Throughout this description, the concept of a hierarchy is presentedwith regard to configurations of relationships between and/or roles ofcontrol modules. Thus, the described control modules in a hierarchy, canbe viewed as somewhat analogous to “nodes” of a “tree” as used in thefields of computer science and/or mathematics. Thus, the hierarchy mayrefer to a collection of control modules having “levels” or“generations” of control modules, where a “parent” control module mightbe associated with one or more “child” control modules. A control modulecan potentially be only a parent control module (e.g., a “root” controlmodule in the hierarchy), both a parent and a child control module(e.g., a mid-level control module), or only a child control module(e.g., a “leaf” control module in the hierarchy not having anychildren).

Although particular references are made herein to certain controlmodules as being either a “parent” or a “child”, these references arenot meant to mean that the control module is exclusively either a parentor child unless otherwise indicated by the context of use. Thus, areference to a “parent” control module can be made where appropriate forease of discussion, and the control module may or may not also be a“child” control module to a different “parent” control module.

In certain embodiments a “child” control module can have precisely one“parent” and zero or more “children,” and a “parent” control module canhave zero or one “parents” and one or more “children.” However, in otherembodiments the defined rules can be configured differently. Forexample, in some embodiments a “child” or “parent” control module canhave multiple “parents.”

The embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 is merely one example and is notintended to unduly limit the claimed embodiments of the presentinvention. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize manypossible variations, alternatives, and modifications to this illustratedhierarchy 100. For example, there may be more or fewer control modules150, levels in the hierarchy, and/or energy resources than shown inFIG. 1. As another example, some embodiments include at least two levelsof control modules in the hierarchy, where at least one control moduleserves as a parent to at least one control module serving as a child inthe hierarchy.

As another example, in some embodiments the control modules need not bearranged in a hierarchy. For example, the control modules can bearranged using (or including aspects of) a mesh configuration (fullyconnected, partially connected, etc.), flat configuration, starconfiguration, ring configuration, hybrid configuration, etc. Thus,using the accompanying disclosure, it should be possible to implementthe disclosed features in a variety of topologies, and thus variousembodiments are not limited to only hierarchical configurations.

In some embodiments, a level in the hierarchy may correspond to aparticular level or granularity of an energy distribution system. Forexample, control modules ‘D1’ and ‘D2’ may correspond to individualhomes, control modules ‘C1’ and ‘C2’ may correspond to particular energysubstations, control modules ‘B1’-‘B3’ may correspond to distributionregions (e.g., cities, counties, etc.), control module ‘A’ maycorrespond to some or all of a state, etc.

FIG. 1 illustrates a control module ‘C2’ at site 150C, which includesone or more energy generation devices 112C. Control module ‘C2’ can bereferenced as a parent to control module ‘D1’ and control module ‘D2’,which can be referenced as children to control module ‘C2’. Controlmodule ‘D1’ is illustrated as being associated with site 150A, whichincludes several controllable energy resources—one or more energygeneration devices 112A (e.g., PV panels, gas generators, windmills,etc.), one or more energy storage devices 114A (e.g., batteries, waterheaters), and one or more load devices 116A (e.g., a washing machine,heating and/or air conditioner unit, refrigerator, etc.). Site 150A canbe a building such as a home or business, a collection of buildings, orany geographic space having controllable energy resources. Controlmodule ‘D1’, which is associated with site 150A, may be physically atthe site 150A or geographically remote from the site 150A but configuredto control the energy devices at the site 150A.

Similarly, control module ‘D2’ is illustrated as being associated withsite 150B, which is depicted as including generation devices 112B andload devices 116B.

In the illustrated hierarchy 100 of control modules 105A-105N, each ofthe control modules 105A-105N may be configured to implement a sameoptimization scheme logic. The optimization scheme logic may utilize aset of locally-determined (e.g., determined by the implementing controlmodule) input values to determine whether (and how) to control one ormore devices at the corresponding site to attempt to achieve an energygoal.

For example, the control module ‘D1’—which acts as a child of controlmodule ‘C2’ in the hierarchy 100—can be configured to determine anenergy generation value of the site 150A, an energy storage value of thesite 150A, and a load value of the site 150A. These determined valuescan be used as a set of input values for the optimization scheme logic.

Control module ‘D1’ can, in some embodiments, determine an energygeneration value of the site 150A by communicating with (or monitoring)energy generation devices 112A—such as a photovoltaic inverter, perhapsusing wireless communication techniques such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, orWiFi—to determine how much energy is being generated at a point in time.Similarly, control module ‘D1’ can, in some embodiments, determine anenergy storage value by communicating with a storage device 114A todetermine a storage rate, current storage amount/utilization, and/orcurrent storage capability. Control module ‘D1’, in some embodiments,can determine a current load value of the site 150A by monitoring a flowof energy through wiring at the site 150A (or communicating with adevice that monitors a flow of energy through wiring) and/orcommunicating with one or more load devices 116A that can report usageinformation.

Control module ‘D1’ can utilize these determined values as input valuesinto the optimization scheme logic, which may determine whether anenergy generation excess or deficiency exists, whether energy storage isoccurring (e.g., at what rate) and/or may continue to occur (e.g.,whether excess storage capacity exists and how much exists), and/orwhether a site load exists and/or will increase or decrease.Accordingly, depending upon the particular configured optimizationscheme logic and its configured energy goal, control module ‘D1’ cancommunicate with one or more of the energy generation devices 112A,energy storage devices 114A, and/or load devices 116A to change anenergy profile of the site 150A according to the energy goal.

For example, if control module ‘D1’ determines that a current energygeneration rate exceeds a site load, the optimization scheme logic ofthe control module ‘D1’ may be configured to control the storagedevice(s) 114A to store some or all of the excess generated energy,and/or control load device(s) 116A to increase the load (and thuspossibly decrease a later-expected load), control the generationdevice(s) 112A to either stop generation or cause excess energy to befed back to the grid. Of course, many other site-specific energyscenarios may exist and cause the optimization scheme logic of thecontrol module ‘D1’ to control devices differently to achieve (orattempt to achieve) an energy goal.

Similarly, control module ‘D2’ may determine and use its own local inputvalues for the optimization scheme logic. These values may be similar tothose discussed with regard to control module ‘D1’. However, as site150B does not include any energy storage device(s), a determined energystorage value of the site 150B (e.g., a storage capacity, an availablestorage capacity, a storage rate, etc.) may be zero.

In some embodiments, parent control modules may similarly determinelocal input values for the same optimization scheme logic. Controlmodule ‘C2’, for example, is depicted as being a parent to controlmodule ‘D1’ and control module ‘D2’. Control module ‘C2’ may beconfigured to determine aggregate energy generation value (of site 150Aand site 150B), an aggregate energy storage value (of site 150A and site150B), and an aggregate load value (of site 150A and site 150B). Thesedetermined values can be used as a set of input values for theoptimization scheme logic.

In some embodiments, control module ‘C2’ may locally determine some orall of these values based upon communications from sites 150A-150B(e.g., communicating with or receiving reporting messages from controlmodule ‘D1’ and/or ‘D2’) and/or observing energy flows to/from thesechild control modules. For example, control module ‘C2’ may determine anaggregate load value (e.g., a sum of individual load values from sites150A-150B) by measuring energy that may flow to/from sites 150A-150B asit passes through site 150C.

Depending upon the particular energy goal targeted by the optimizationscheme logic and/or the determined input values, control module ‘C2’ maybe configured to cause energy generated by generation devices 112C(e.g., a PV array) to be provided to one or both of control modules‘D1‘-’D2’.

Of course, the illustrated control modules 105A-105N and sites aremerely illustrative, and thus many different control modules atdifferent hierarchy levels may include different energy resources thanas depicted, and thus be able to control site-local devices differentlybased upon its determined input values for the optimization schemelogic.

For example, in some embodiments some or all of the control modules105A-105N may determine energy price data, and use this energy pricedata as an input value into the optimization scheme logic. For example,control module ‘D1’ at site 150A may receive, from an electrical serviceprovider, a price signal indicating a change in pricing, a time-basedpricing scheme, an energy event, etc., which causes a price of energyprovided from or to the electrical service provider (e.g., externalenergy system) to change. Thus, in some embodiments the optimizationscheme logic may take into account energy pricing associated with takingenergy from the grid or providing energy back to the grid when decidinghow to target the energy goal.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram 200 representing the fractal nature ofhierarchical control modules utilizing homogeneous control logicaccording to some embodiments. The block diagram 200 includes a controlmodule ‘F1’ serving as a parent in a hierarchy to control modules‘G1’-‘G5’.

Parent control module ‘F1’ can determine an aggregate energy generationvalue, an aggregate load value, an aggregate storage value, andaggregate price signal data associated with child sites (associated withchild control modules ‘G1’-‘G5’). These determined values may result ofan addition (or another statistical measure such as average or standarddeviation) of individual site-specific values. As illustrated, controlmodule ‘F1’ may also incorporate similar upstream feedback provided bynon-illustrated parent control modules.

This combination of parent control module ‘F1’ and its child controlmodules ‘G1’-‘G5’ is illustrated as part of a common architecture thatcan repeat as the individual components are expanded in detail. Thus,this combination is a first scale of a fractal, as the focus upon one ofthe child control modules (here, control module ‘G1’) can repeat thearchitecture. For example, a second scale of the fractal involvescontrol module ‘G1’, which may or may not itself act as a parent toother (non-illustrated) control modules, and similarly determine andutilize a set of input values (e.g., energy generation value, loadvalue, storage value, price signal data value) for the same optimizationscheme logic as implemented by control module ‘F1’.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram 300 of exemplary sites and hardware-basedconfigurations for implementing hierarchical control modules utilizinghomogeneous control logic according to some embodiments. In FIG. 3, twocontrol modules of a hierarchy are depicted.

A first control module ‘D1’ is depicted as part of a gateway device 305that can be physically situated at site 150A along with generationdevice(s) 112A, storage device(s) 114A, and/or load device(s) 116A. Insome embodiments, control module ‘D1’ is executed as a software moduleby gateway device 305, though in some embodiments control module ‘D1’may be implemented as a combination of software and hardware or justhardware.

Control module ‘D1’ may be a child to control module ‘C2’ in thehierarchy, which is thus a parent control module. Control modules ‘D1’and ‘C2’ may communicate over one or more communications networks 350,which may include private and/or public networks such as the Internet.In FIG. 3, control module ‘C2’ is illustrated as part of server computer310, and in some embodiments is executed as a software module, thoughagain it can be implemented as a combination of software and hardware orjust hardware.

Server computer 310 is depicted as being separate from site 150C;however, control module ‘C2’ is still deemed as “associated” with site150C, as it can be communicatively coupled with devices of the site 150Csuch as one or more energy generation device(s) 112C. However, controlmodule ‘C2’ can also, in some embodiments, be physically present at site150C, and be part of a server computer or gateway device, for example.

FIG. 4 shows a simplified block diagram of a system 400 including anexemplary control module 105A implemented using a site gateway device305 and other site energy devices sites according to some embodiments.As shown, system environment 400 includes an energy generation andstorage (EGS) system 402 that is installed at site 150A (e.g., aresidence, a commercial building, etc.). EGS system 402 includes aPV-based energy generation subsystem comprising a PV inverter 406 andone or more PV panels 408, which collectively can represent energygeneration device(s) 112A. EGS system 402 also includes a battery-basedenergy storage subsystem comprising a battery inverter/charger 410 and abattery device 412, which collectively can represent energy storagedevice(s) 116A.

In some embodiments, PV inverter 406 and battery inverter/charger 410can be combined into a single device. In the example of FIG. 4, EGSsystem 402 is grid-connected; thus, PV inverter 406 and batteryinverter/charger 410 are electrically connected to the utility grid 414via a main panel 416 and a utility meter 418. Further, to provide powerto site 150A, utility grid 414, PV inverter 406, and batteryinverter/charger 410 are electrically connected to critical site loads420 and non-critical site loads 422 (e.g., representing energy loaddevice(s) 114A).

As previously described, integrated EGS systems such as system 402provide a number of advantages over energy generation systems that donot incorporate any on-site energy storage. For example, excess energyproduced by PV components 406 and 408 can be stored in battery device412 via battery inverter/charger 410 as a critical reserve. Batteryinverter/charger 410 can then discharge this reserved energy frombattery device 412 when utility grid 414 is unavailable (e.g., during agrid blackout) to provide backup power for critical site loads 420 untilgrid power is restored. As another example, battery device 412 can beleveraged to “time shift” energy usage at site 150A in a way thatprovides economic value to the site owner or the installer/serviceprovider of EGS system 402. For instance, battery inverter/charger 410can charge battery device 412 with energy from utility grid 414 (and/orPV inverter 406) when grid energy cost is low. Battery inverter/charger410 can then dispatch the stored energy at a later time to, e.g., offsetsite energy usage from utility grid 414 when PV energy production islow/grid energy cost is high, or sell back the energy to the utilitywhen energy buyback prices are high (e.g., during peak demand times).

As centralized management of EGS systems such as system 402 has provento be difficult, particularly at the large scale needed for theresidential and commercial markets, in some embodiments systemenvironment 400 can include a site gateway 305 implementing controlmodule 105A, which can control these energy operations using determinedinput values and optimization scheme logic as described herein.

Site gateway 305 can be a computing device (e.g., a general purposepersonal computer, a dedicated device, etc.) that is installed at site150A. As shown, site gateway 305 is communicatively coupled with on-sitecomponents 406, 410, 412, and 418. Site gateway 305 can also becommunicatively coupled with other control modules in the hierarchy viaa communications network.

In some embodiments, site gateway 305 can be a standalone device that isseparate from EGS system 402. In other embodiments, site gateway 305 canbe embedded or integrated into one or more components of system 402.

Site gateway 305 can collect system operating statistics, such as theamount of PV energy produced (via PV inverter 406), the energy flow toand from utility grid 414 (via utility meter 418), the amount of energystored in battery device 412, and so on. These statistics can beutilized as (or to generate) the input values for the optimizationscheme logic of control module 105A.

According to embodiments, communication between the various elementsinvolved in energy/power management (e.g., between the control module105A and the various devices at the site 150A) may be achieved throughwireless (e.g., Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi) or wired communications. Insome embodiments, this communication can occur through use of a powermanagement Message Bus System (MBS), which can facilitate communicationbetween the various entities (e.g., on-site devices, user interfacesystems, logging systems, third party systems etc.) in a distributedenergy generation and/or storage deployment. The MBS can operateaccording to a subscribe/publish model, with each respective devicefunctioning as a subscriber and/or publisher, utilizing a topic of amessage being communicated.

It should be appreciated that system environment 400 is illustrative andnot intended to limit embodiments of the present invention. One ofordinary skill in the art will recognize many variations, modifications,and alternatives that can be utilized.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary optimally flat net power curve graph 505,combined load and generation curves with excess generation graph 510,and an aggregate power curve graph 515 according to some embodiments.

As described above, the optimization scheme logic utilized by thevarious control modules can be configured to control devices to adjustan energy profile of the site according to a configured energy goal.

In some embodiments, the optimization scheme logic can target aconfigured energy goal of a flat net power curve 507, as represented bygraph 505. This graph, with time on the x-axis (e.g., representing thecourse of a time period such as a day, etc.) and power on the y-axis(e.g., in kilowatts), which can indicate an amount of energy being takenfrom the grid from a particular site. This optimally flat net powercurve 507, being flat, indicates a constant/continual draw of energyfrom the grid having no deviations (e.g., spikes). Accordingly, in someembodiments the optimization scheme logic utilized by the controlmodules may use the determined input values and control any of varioussite devices in an attempt to maintain as flat of a net power curve aspossible given the factors/constraints/capabilities of the site. Forexample, the optimization scheme logic can be configured to causegenerated energy to be stored during periods of over-generation, causeenergy stored at the site to be used during periods where the site loadwould exceed the power draw of the net power curve, etc.

Turning to graph 510, an exemplary load curve 512 is illustrated withtwo peaks. The first peak might, for example, represent an increase insite load during morning hours, where people in a house might beutilizing a heating system, kitchen appliances, televisions, and thelike. The middle portion of the load curve 512 then falls for a portionof day (e.g., such as when a house might be vacant and a relativelyminimal and largely flat load exists from continued operation of arefrigerator, HVAC system, security system, etc.), and then rise againas the second peak in the evening hours. This second peak might, forexample, represent a period of time where a family returns to the home,uses consumer electronics, kitchen appliances, additionalheating/cooling, laundry, etc., before the late evening, where the loadagain flattens as people may sleep.

In contrast to this exemplary load curve 512, a site energy generationcurve 514 is also depicted with one large peak at the middle of thegraph. Such an exemplary generation curve 514 may result from a siteutilizing PV energy generation, where energy is most created during themiddle of the day when the sun may be most overhead and the PV system iscapturing the most solar energy.

Accordingly, in the exemplary graph 510 the peaks of the load curve 512and the generation curve 514 do not align, such that there is a periodof excess generation 516 during the middle of the day and a period ofexcess utilization/load during the evening and morning.

Thus, in some embodiments, the optimization scheme logic can beconfigured to control site devices to cause the resulting net powercurve (or, power draw from the external grid over time) to be maximallyflat and/or low. For example, in some embodiments the optimizationscheme logic can cause energy generated during periods of excessgeneration 516 to be stored in energy storage devices (e.g., batteries)to be used at the site during periods of excess utilization.Additionally, in some embodiments the optimization scheme logic cancause energy generated during periods of excess generation 516 to bestored in energy storage devices such as hot water heaters (to reducethe expected load during the times of excess utilization) and/or causeload devices to increase their load during this period of excessgeneration 516. For example, the optimization scheme logic of a sitecontrol module may cause an HVAC system to run during a period of excessgeneration 516 to heat/cool a residence (or building) in advance of thetime when a person may return to the residence. Accordingly, the excessgenerated energy can be used to proactively perform tasks thatordinarily would be performed during periods of peak utilization,thereby reducing the need to perform those tasks later, which canflatten the utilization during those typical high-use periods.

As a result, through monitoring of site conditions (e.g., via determinedoptimization scheme logic input values and/or historical trend data ofsite input values), the control module may thus maximally flatten aresulting net power curve 517 of the site, as shown in graph 515. Inthis exemplary net power curve 517, the resulting net power curve 517 ismuch flatter than that shown in graph 510 as a result of the site devicecontrol from the control module. Thus, much smaller peaks exist duringthe morning and evening times of peak utilization, and a relatively flatmid-day utilization can result from the control module proactivelyincreasing certain loads, as described above.

Of course, many different energy goals can flexibly be configured forthe optimization scheme logic, thereby causing differently shaped netpower curves 517 to result. For example, FIG. 6 shows an exemplary pricecurve graph 605 and a price-optimized net power curve graph 610according to some embodiments.

As described earlier herein, one determined input for the optimizationscheme logic of a control module may include energy pricing data, suchas data from one or more price signals received from a grid energyprovider. For example, as shown in graph 605, a grid energy provider mayprovide price signal data such that the cost of energy taken from thegrid during different times differs. Price curve 607 illustrates oneexemplary deviation of pricing in a stepwise manner. Of course, thisstepwise price curve 607 is exemplary, and many different time-basedpricing schemes are possible. Additionally, the price curve data 607 canalso include or represent a cost of providing energy from the site tothe grid, too.

Continuing the example, as shown price curve 607 is relatively low atthe beginning and end of the graph (e.g., during early morning hours andlate evening hours when energy demand is relatively low), higher duringa mid-morning time period, and then the highest in the middle of thegraph 605, perhaps during periods of heightened system-wide demand frombusinesses, etc.

Thus, in some embodiments the optimization scheme logic can beconfigured to target an energy goal of a minimal overall energy cost forthe site of utilized grid-supplied energy. Such price curve data 607 canbe thus be utilized by the optimization scheme logic, for example, tomodify the site energy profile by increasing energy utilization at thesite (e.g., take and store energy from the grid in a storage device,take energy from the grid and proactively/speculatively increase anenergy load such as heating/cooling, etc.) during periods of lowest costgrid-supplied energy, and/or decreasing the use of grid-supplied energyas much as possible during periods of higher cost grid-supplied energy.

As a result of such an energy goal, the optimized net power curve 612illustrated in graph 610 might result, which includes periods of higherutilization during the early morning and late evening, whengrid-supplied energy has a least cost, and much lower utilization duringthe mid-day when grid-supplied energy has a highest cost.

Of course, as mentioned above, the price curve data 607 utilized as aninput to the optimization scheme logic in some embodiments can alsoinclude different monetary results during different times for providingenergy from the site back into the grid. Accordingly, an energy goaltargeted by the optimization scheme logic may seek to provide energyback to the grid during periods where it is most beneficial to the siteto reduce an overall energy cost to the site and/or even, potentially,maximize a profit resulting from such energy providing.

Hybrid approaches can be used that take advantage of both price signalopportunities and power storage resources. As indicated above, power canbe routed back into the grid in response to a price signal. This mayoccur whether over-generation condition exists or not, based on nearterm or long term optimization goals. Also, power can also be stored inan energy storage device (e.g., battery) whether an over-generationcondition exists or not. This does not have to be a mutually exclusiverelationship. That is, power can be routed back into the grid toaccommodate a price signal and power can be simultaneously (orsuccessively) routed to a storage device. The many power routingconfigurations that are possible would be appreciated by one of ordinaryskill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure

Much of the discussion to this point involved systems configured in alargely autonomous manner, where each control module largely works onits own by executing its own optimization scheme logic without muchinteraction or input from the other control modules. However, someembodiments can also utilize interactive system configurations, wherecommunications between control modules can be used as inputs for theoptimization scheme logic.

For example, FIG. 7 shows exemplary communications between parentcontrol modules and child control modules in an interactive hierarchicalenergy distribution grid configuration 700 according to someembodiments. This shown interactive configuration 700 includes severallevels of a control module hierarchy—a first control module ‘L’, whichis a parent to control module ‘M.’ Additionally, control module ‘M’serves as a parent to two control modules ‘N1’ and ‘N2’, which areassociated with sites 150R and 150S, respectively.

In some embodiments, control modules may be configured to provide siteenergy capabilities up the hierarchy to parent control modules. Forexample, control module ‘N1’ at site 150R can transmit an aggregatecapability report 715A to its parent control module ‘M’. This aggregatecapability report 715A indicates the aggregate energy capabilities ofthe associated site 150R (and, if control module ‘N1’ were a parent, theaggregate energy capabilities of its children control modules). Forexample, the shown aggregate capability report 715A indicates that theaggregate site storage capacity (here, just a site storage capacity fromone or more energy storage devices) is a first value X1, an aggregatesite energy generation capacity (here, just a site energy generationcapacity from one or more site energy generation devices) is a secondvalue Y1, etc.

Similarly, control module ‘N2’ can also transmit an aggregate capabilityreport 715B to its parent control module ‘M’, indicating that theaggregate site storage capacity (here, a site storage capacity due tocontrol module ‘N2’ being a leaf in the hierarchy) has a value of X7,the aggregate energy generation capacity (here, a site energy generationcapacity) has a value of Y7, etc. Of course, in other embodiments,aggregate capability reports 715A-715B can include less information,more information, and/or different information about energy generation,storage, and/or load capacity than as depicted herein.

The aggregate capability reports 715A-715B can serve as inputs to theoptimization scheme logic at control module ‘M’, and thusly allow theoptimization scheme logic to determine what adjustments can potentiallybe made at different sites to achieve a configured energy goal. Forexample, the optimization scheme logic at control module ‘M’ maydetermine, to meet an energy goal, that site 150R should attempt totrack a first power curve (represented by power curve data 710B) whilesite 150S should attempt to track a second (possibly different) powercurve (represented by power curve data 710C). Thus, in some embodiments,control module ‘M’ transmits messages to control modules ‘N1’ and ‘N2’indicating desired power curves (as power curve data 710B-710C,respectively). This desired power curve data can be used as an input tothe optimization scheme logic implemented by control modules ‘N1’ and‘N2’, which can then attempt to adjust the energy profile of therespective sites to target these desired power curves.

As described throughout this disclosure, in some embodiments theseoperations may occur at different levels of the hierarchy according to afractal-like configuration. Thus, in some embodiments, control module‘M’ may similarly determine and provide an aggregate capability report715C to its parent control module ‘L’ indicating the aggregate energycapabilities available to (e.g., at and under) control module ‘M’. Forexample, the aggregate energy capabilities available to control module‘M’ may comprise an aggregation of any energy capabilities at a siteassociated with control module ‘M’, together with an aggregation ofenergy capabilities of all sites associated with control modulesexisting below control module ‘M’ in the hierarchy—i.e., sitecapabilities associated with children control modules ‘N1’ and ‘N2’,site capabilities associated with “grandchild” control modules, sitecapabilities associated with “great-grandchild” control modules, etc. Ofcourse, this configuration benefits from the concept of abstraction ofresources, as control module ‘M’ here receives already-aggregatedcapabilities from each of its children (encapsulating all capabilitiesat that associated site and all descendant sites, if any), so it neednot be concerned with what capabilities exist further below it in thehierarchy (or what particular devices exist), and need not directlycommunicate with control modules further below its children controlmodules in the hierarchy. Thus, in some embodiments, each control moduleis responsible for aggregating its own site energy capabilities togetherwith aggregate energy capabilities directly reported to it by its ownchildren, and passing this aggregation up in the hierarchy, where thosecontrol modules perform the same aggregation and “reporting up.”

Similarly, control module ‘L’ may implement its own optimization schemelogic, using the aggregate capability report 715C data as an input, anddetermine that control module ‘M’ is to implement a desired power curvedata 710A.

Thus, control module ‘M’ may utilize this received power curve data 710Aand utilize it as an input to its optimization scheme logic (along with,perhaps, the aggregate capability reports 715A-715B) to determine thedesired power curves that control modules ‘N1’ and ‘N2’ are to target,and provide power curve data 710B-710C accordingly.

Thus, in some embodiments the hierarchy utilizes abstraction andaggregation to remove device specifics, site specifics, and hierarchyspecifics from optimization scheme logic decision making. Accordingly,top-level optimization scheme logic decisions can be made simply andquickly using hierarchy-wide aggregated capability data to provideinstructions (e.g., desired power curves) to its child control modules.These child control modules can similarly make simple and quickdecisions using aggregated capability data to provide instructions downthe hierarchy to its child control modules, which can similarly repeatthe process throughout the hierarchy.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show flows (800, 850, 900) in a control module configuredas a parent in a hierarchy of control modules for energy optimizationconfiguration according to some embodiments.

The operations of these flows are described with reference to theexemplary embodiments of the other diagrams. However, it should beunderstood that the operations of these flow diagrams can be performedby embodiments of the invention other than those discussed withreference to these other diagrams, and the embodiments of the inventiondiscussed with reference these other diagrams can perform operationsdifferent than those discussed with reference to the flow diagrams.Also, though the flow diagrams in this figure show a particular order ofoperations performed by certain embodiments, it should be understoodthat such order is exemplary and thus, alternative embodiments mayperform the operations in a different order, combine certain operations,overlap certain operations, remove certain operations, etc.

The first flow 800 can be performed in a control module configured as aparent in a hierarchy of control modules. The flow 800 includes block805, where the control module determines an aggregate energy generationvalue of a plurality of sites associated with a plurality of childcontrol modules in the hierarchy. This block 805 can include receiving amessage from one or more of the child control modules indicating energygeneration values of their associated sites, and can include energygeneration values of other control modules further down in the hierarchyserving as descendant (or child, grandchild, etc.) control modules tothe sending child control modules.

At block 810, the flow 800 includes determining an aggregate energystorage value indicating an amount of stored energy at the plurality ofsites. Block 810 can include receiving a message from one or more of thechild control modules indicating energy storage and/or capacity valuesof their associated sites and aggregate energy storage and/or capacityvalues of sites of their descendant control modules.

At block 815, the flow 800 includes determining an aggregate load valueindicating an amount of energy utilized at the plurality of sites. Block815 can include receiving a message from one or more of the childcontrol modules indicating energy utilization values of their associatedsites and aggregate energy utilization values of sites of theirdescendant control modules. In some embodiments, block 815 can includemonitoring, by the control module at a site, a flow of energy to/fromthe sites associated with the child control modules.

At block 820, the flow 800 includes determining, using an optimizationscheme logic utilizing a set of input values comprising the aggregateenergy generation value, the aggregate energy storage value, and theaggregate load value, whether to provide energy to one or more of theplurality of sites. Block 820 can include determining that a net flow ofenergy between the plurality of sites (associated with the child controlmodules) and an external energy system exceeds a threshold amount. Block820 can include determining an energy need amount based upon adifference between the net flow of energy and the threshold amount.

In some embodiments, the flow 800 includes providing the thresholdamount of energy from the site to the one or more of the plurality ofsites. This providing can include dispatching stored or generated energyfrom the site associated with the control module to one or more of thesites associated with the child control modules.

The second flow 850 can similarly be performed in a control moduleconfigured as a parent and a child in a hierarchy of control modules. Insome embodiments, flow 850 can be performed by a control module (e.g.,control module ‘M’) in an interactive system configuration 700 aspresented with regard to the concepts of FIG. 7.

Flow 850 includes block 855, where a desired load curve is received froma parent control module (e.g., control module ‘L’ of FIG. 7) in thehierarchy of control modules. The desired load curve can be generated bythe parent control module and indicate a net load curve that shouldresult from the operation of a site associated with the receivingcontrol module (and operations of sites associated with descendantcontrol modules of the receiving control module) to meet an energy goal.

Flow 850 also includes block 860, where a capability report message isreceived from one or more child control modules (e.g., control modules‘N1’ and ‘N2’ of FIG. 7). The capability report message can indicateenergy capabilities of one or more sites (e.g., sites 150R-150S)associated with the child control modules and any descendant controlmodules thereof. In some embodiments, block 860 occurs prior to block855, and may be further accompanied by the control module determiningaggregate energy capabilities for the site associated with the controlmodule and all sites of descendant control modules, and providing theaggregate energy capabilities to the parent control module in anaggregate capability report (e.g., aggregate capability report 715C). Insome embodiments, the desired load curve received in block 855 isgenerated by the parent control module based upon the aggregatecapability report.

Flow 850 also includes block 865, where a determination, using anoptimization scheme logic utilizing a set of input values comprising thedesired load curve and the indicated energy capabilities, of one or morechild desired load curves is made. The one or more child desired loadcurves may be determined, using the energy capabilities received inblock 860 from the child control modules, such that the desired loadcurve is targeted (e.g., as closely met as possible) upon a successfulimplementation of the child desired load curves.

At block 870, the respective one or more child desired load curves aretransmitted to the one or more child control modules. In someembodiments, the child control modules can use this data as an inputinto their optimization scheme logic, and as a result adjust theirassociated site energy profiles and/or create additional desired loadcurves for any descendant control modules thereof.

FIG. 9 shows flow 900 in a control module configured as an independentnode in a mesh or hierarchy of control modules for energy optimizationconfiguration according to some embodiments.

Flow 900 can be performed in a control module configured within ahierarchy of control modules. The flow 900 includes block 905, where thecontrol module determines an aggregate energy generation valueassociated with the site. The site may include one or more energygeneration systems (e.g., solar PV systems, wind power systems, or othersystem utilizing renewable resources) and/or the site may be associatedwith a number of separate sites functioning as child nodes with respectto the site with each child site having its own energy generationsystems. The energy generation systems of the child nodes may beincluded in the aggregate energy generation value associated with thesite. This block 905 can include receiving a message from its own energygeneration systems, one or more of the child control modules indicatingenergy generation values of their associated sites, as well as energygeneration values of other control modules further down in the hierarchyserving as descendant (or child, grandchild, etc.) control modules tothe sending child control modules.

At block 910, the flow 900 includes determining an aggregate energystorage value associated with the site. The site may include one or moreenergy storage systems (e.g., battery systems, flywheel systems, orother system capable of storing energy) and/or the site may beassociated with a number of separate sites functioning as child nodes(and possibly descendants therefrom) with respect to the site with eachchild node having its own energy resources. The energy storage systemsof the descendant nodes may be included in the aggregate energy storagevalue associated with the site. Block 910 can include receiving amessage from its own energy storage systems, or one or more of the childcontrol modules indicating energy storage and/or capacity values oftheir associated sites and aggregate energy storage and/or capacityvalues of sites of their descendant control modules.

At block 915, the flow 900 includes determining an aggregate load valueassociated with the site. The site may include multiple loads (e.g.,appliances, lights, machinery, etc.) and/or the site may be associatedwith a number of separate sites functioning as child nodes (and possiblydescendants therefrom) with respect to the site with each child nodehaving its own load. The loads for some or all of the descendant nodesmay be included in the aggregate load value associated with the site.Block 915 can include receiving a message from its own control moduleand/or components thereof (e.g., power meters), or one or more of thechild control modules indicating energy utilization values (i.e., loadvalues) of their associated sites and aggregate energy utilizationvalues of sites of their descendant control modules. In someembodiments, block 915 can include monitoring, by the control module ata site, a flow of energy to/from the sites associated with the childcontrol modules.

At block 920, the flow 900 includes determining, using an optimizationscheme logic utilizing a set of input values comprising the aggregateenergy generation value, the aggregate energy storage value, and theaggregate load value, an optimal power provisioning profile for thesite. In some embodiments, the site only determines an optimal powerprovisioning profile for itself. That is, the site may optimize its ownload curve (e.g., by flattening or lowering the overall average load)without consideration of its descendant nodes, but it may still utilizethe resources associated with the descendant nodes.

In some embodiments, certain nodes may not contribute to aggregateenergy generation or storage capacity to parent nodes (i.e., “upstream”nodes). For example, some nodes may include child nodes in theiroptimization scheme, and some may not because the child node may bedesignated an independent node or “island” node such that no nodesupstream (parent nodes) and/or downstream (child nodes) can affect orcontrol its own control module. The concept of “independent” or “island”nodes can be applied to any system described in this disclosure.

Devices implementing any of control modules 105A-105N, and some or allof energy resource devices (e.g., generation devices 112A, storagedevices 114A, load devices 116A), can utilize any suitable number ofsubsystems. Examples of such subsystems or components are shown in FIG.10, which shows a block diagram of an exemplary computer apparatusaccording to some embodiments.

The subsystems shown in FIG. 10 are interconnected via a system bus1075. Additional subsystems such as a printer 1074, keyboard 1078,storage device (e.g., or “fixed disk” such as an optical disk, magneticdisk or “hard drive,” flash storage, etc.) 1079, display 1076, which iscoupled to display adapter 1082, and others are shown. Peripherals andinput/output (I/O) devices, which couple to I/O controller 1071, can beconnected to the computer system by any number of means known in theart, such as input/output (I/O) port 1077 (e.g., USB, FireWire®). Forexample, I/O port 1077 or external interface 1081 (e.g. Ethernet, Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc.) can be used to connect the computer apparatusto a local or wide area network such as the Internet, a mouse inputdevice, or a scanner. The interconnection via system bus allows thecentral processor 1073, which may include one or more processors (orprocessing units, cores, etc.), to communicate with each subsystem andto control the execution of instructions from system memory 1072 or thestorage device 1079, as well as the exchange of information betweensubsystems. The system memory 1072 and/or the fixed disk 1079 may embodya computer readable medium. Any of the data mentioned herein can beoutput from one component to another component and can be output to theuser.

It should be understood that any of the embodiments of the presentinvention can be implemented in the form of control logic using hardware(e.g. an application specific integrated circuit or field programmablegate array) and/or using computer software with a generally programmableprocessor in a modular or integrated manner. As user herein, a processorincludes a multi-core processor on a same integrated chip, or multipleprocessing units on a single circuit board or networked. Based on thedisclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill inthe art will know and appreciate other ways and/or methods to implementembodiments of the present invention using hardware and a combination ofhardware and software.

Any of the software components or functions described in thisapplication may be implemented as software code to be executed by aprocessor using any suitable computer language such as, for example,Java®, C++, C, Python, or Perl using, for example, conventionalprogramming techniques, functional programming techniques, and/orobject-oriented techniques. The software code may be stored as a seriesof instructions or commands on a computer readable medium for storageand/or transmission, suitable media include random access memory (RAM),a read only memory (ROM), a magnetic medium such as a hard-drive or afloppy disk, or an optical medium such as a compact disk (CD) or DVD(digital versatile disk), flash memory, and the like. The computerreadable medium may be any combination of such storage or transmissiondevices.

Such programs may also be encoded and transmitted using carrier signalsadapted for transmission via wired, optical, and/or wireless networksconforming to a variety of protocols, including the Internet. As such, acomputer readable medium according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may be created using a data signal encoded with such programs.Computer readable media encoded with the program code may be packagedwith a compatible device or provided separately from other devices(e.g., via Internet download). Any such computer readable medium mayreside on or within a single computer program product (e.g. a harddrive, a CD, or an entire computer system), and may be present on orwithin different computer program products within a system or network. Acomputer system may include a monitor, printer, or other suitabledisplay for providing any of the results mentioned herein to a user.

Any of the methods described herein may be totally or partiallyperformed with a computer system including one or more processors, whichcan be configured to perform the steps. Thus, embodiments can bedirected to computer systems configured to perform the steps of any ofthe methods described herein, potentially with different componentsperforming a respective steps or a respective group of steps. Althoughpresented as numbered steps, steps of methods herein can be performed ata same time or in a different order. Additionally, portions of thesesteps may be used with portions of other steps from other methods. Also,all or portions of a step may be optional. Additionally, any of thesteps of any of the methods can be performed with modules, circuits, orother means for performing these steps.

Due to the ever-changing nature of computers and networks, thedescription of computer system 1000 depicted in FIG. 10 is intended onlyas a specific example. Many other configurations having more or fewercomponents than the system depicted in FIG. 10 are possible. Based onthe disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate other ways and/or methods to implement thevarious embodiments.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described,various modifications, alterations, alternative constructions, andequivalents are also encompassed within the scope of the invention.Embodiments of the present invention are not restricted to operationwithin certain specific data processing environments, but are free tooperate within a plurality of data processing environments.Additionally, although embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed using a particular series of transactions and steps, it shouldbe apparent to those skilled in the art that the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the described series of transactions andsteps. Various features and aspects of the above-described embodimentsmay be used individually or jointly.

Further, while embodiments of the present invention have been describedusing a particular combination of hardware and software, it should berecognized that other combinations of hardware and software are alsowithin the scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the presentinvention may be implemented only in hardware, or only in software, orusing combinations thereof. The various processes described herein canbe implemented on the same processor or different processors in anycombination. Accordingly, where components or modules are described asbeing configured to perform certain operations, such configuration canbe accomplished, e.g., by designing electronic circuits to perform theoperation, by programming programmable electronic circuits (such asmicroprocessors) to perform the operation, or any combination thereof.Processes can communicate using a variety of techniques including butnot limited to conventional techniques for inter-process communication(IPC), and different pairs of processes may use different techniques, orthe same pair of processes may use different techniques at differenttimes.

The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, beevident that additions, subtractions, deletions, and other modificationsand changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broaderspirit and scope as set forth in the claims. Thus, although specificinvention embodiments have been described, these are not intended to belimiting. Various modifications and equivalents are within the scope ofthe following claims.

A recitation of “a”, “an” or “the” is intended to mean “one or more”unless specifically indicated to the contrary.

What is claimed is:
 1. A distributed electrical grid system, comprising:a plurality of control modules arranged in a hierarchy and associatedwith a corresponding plurality of sites, the plurality of controlmodules implementing a same optimization scheme logic, having an energygoal, to control one or more devices at a site according to the energygoal, the plurality of control modules including at least: a firstcontrol module configured as a child of a second control module in thehierarchy, the first control module being associated with a first siteand configured to: receive a desired power curve from the second controlmodule, wherein the desired power curve indicates a desired first siteenergy characteristic, determine, based upon the desired power curve,whether a current energy profile of the first site satisfies the desiredfirst site energy characteristic, and when the current energy profile ofthe first site does not satisfy the desired first site energycharacteristic, change the current energy profile of the first site bysignaling one or more devices at the first site to change one or more ofan energy load used at the first site, an amount of energy being storedat the first site, and an amount of energy generated by the first site;and the second control module configured as a parent to a set of childcontrol modules including the first control module, the second controlmodule being configured to: determine an aggregate child energy profileof a set of sites associated with the set of child control modules by atleast determining an aggregate energy generation value of the set ofsites, an aggregate energy storage value of the set of sites, and anaggregate load value of the set of sites; based upon the aggregate childenergy profile of the set of sites, determine a set of desired powercurves corresponding to the set of sites; and transmit a correspondingdesired power curve of the set of desired power curves to acorresponding one of the set of child control modules.
 2. Thedistributed electrical grid system of claim 1, wherein each desiredpower curve in the set of desired power curves indicates a desired netflow of energy into a corresponding site over time.
 3. The distributedelectrical grid system of claim 1, wherein the set of desired powercurves are determined such that, in aggregate, the set of desired powercurves minimize deviations of a net flow of energy between the set ofsites and an external energy system.
 4. The distributed electrical gridsystem of claim 1, wherein the set of desired power curves aredetermined so that, in aggregate, the set of desired power curvesminimize a net flow of energy between the set of sites and an externalenergy system and deviations of the net flow of energy between the setof sites and the external energy system.
 5. The distributed electricalgrid system of claim 1, wherein the first control module is furtherconfigured to transmit, to the second control module, a set of energycapabilities of the first site.
 6. The distributed electrical gridsystem of claim 5, wherein the set of energy capabilities of the firstsite includes an aggregate amount of energy storage capacity provided byone or more of the one or more devices at the first site.
 7. Thedistributed electrical grid system of claim 1, wherein first controlmodule is further configured to: determine, for the first site, aprojected energy utilization indicating a projected net flow of energyinto the first site; and transmit the projected energy utilization tothe second control module.
 8. The distributed electrical grid system ofclaim 1, wherein each site of the set of sites includes one or more of ageneration device, a storage device and a load device.
 9. Thedistributed electrical grid system of claim 1, wherein the set ofdesired power curves produces a desired aggregate power curve that isflat.
 10. The distributed electrical grid system of claim 1, wherein theenergy goal is has higher utilization during early morning and lateevening, and wherein the set of desired power curves produces anaggregate power curve that satisfies the energy goal.
 11. Thedistributed electrical grid system of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofcontrol modules are each configured to consider only energy data fromitself and control modules above or below in the hierarchy.
 12. Thedistributed electrical grid system of claim 11, wherein the energy dataincludes one or more of an energy load, an amount of energy stored, andan amount of energy generated.
 13. The distributed electrical gridsystem of claim 1, further comprising a battery at the first sitestoring the amount of energy stored at the first site.
 14. Thedistributed electrical grid system of claim 1, further comprising aplurality of home appliances at the first site comprising a portion ofthe energy load at the first site.
 15. The distributed electrical gridsystem of claim 1, further comprising a photovoltaic (PV) systemproviding the amount of energy generated by the first site.
 16. Thedistributed electrical grid system of claim 1, wherein the set ofdesired power curves are determined such that, in aggregate, the set ofdesired power curves minimize deviations of a net flow of energy betweenthe set of sites and an external energy system, wherein the externalenergy system is an electrical grid of an electrical service provider.17. The distributed electrical grid system of claim 1, furthercomprising a communication network over which the desired power curve isreceived from the second 3 control module.